University

When does the program start?

S1 (starting this year 2015) will start in September. Since this is the first time Neurasmus offers this track, more info is to come.
S2 starts the first week of February and corresponds to a 5-month lab rotation.
S3 starts the first week of September (classes only)
The Master thesis (S4) starts the first week of January and corresponds to a 6-month lab rotation.

What do I need to study before the start of the program?

For S2: Depends on where you will do your internship. Will be good to read up on the subject before, ask your supervisor to send you some of the literature of the project.
For S3: Nothing, really.

Which books do you recommend me and for which classes?

For S3: most of the courses rely on primary literature. If taking the Pharmacology subject, the book "Molecular Neuropharmacology" by Nester (2nd edition) will provide a good background for the quick-paced lectures.

Are there any libraries? How can I get access?

There is a university library on campus that you can access freely. Most books are in French, although there are (relatively few) neuroscience books in English. It is usually packed with medicine students studying for their first year exams so if you want to find a place go early.

Courses may change from one year to another (some classes may not be available anymore and other may open - you will be advised by Agnés Nadjar the first week).

How many courses can I choose (minimum/maximum)? Do I have a choice?

S1:?
S3: You need to reach 30 ECTS. Two of the classes are mandatory (as mentioned before), other are optional.

What is the schedule of the classes?

For the internship the hours are usually 9h to 17h however it usually depends on your supervisor and if you need to stay longer for experiments.

Where is the university located?

Main campus (Campus Carreire) is located near the main Hospital (Hôpital Pellegrin, Tram A).
Caution: some labs are shared with Bordeaux 1 University. Depending on your lab rotation, you may work in the Campus of Talence (Tram B - Peixotto).

What about the exams?

Do we have language courses?

Yes. A French language course is organized by Neurasmus. The teacher is very good and willing to help. Depending on the level of the students, one or two groups might be organized.

Do I have to do lab rotations? How many?

If in S2/S4 the whole semester is spent working on a project in a lab.
No lab rotation during S3.

Where can I find labs?

Are there any scholarships available?

No, but due to the French law (currently in force, may change over the next years), students who do a lab rotation exceeding 2 months receive around 500€ a month during the entire duration of the lab rotation.

Life in Bordeaux

CAF (French government support for housing)
You can apply (possibly with the help of the student office) and you will get some part of the rent refunded from the second month onward. Works also retroactive for the months you lived in Bordeaux.
For more info check here.
The amount depends on the length of your stay, and if your residence is eligible.
It is good advice to check beforehand. It can take a few months before it is activated.

Is there university housing provided? How much does it cost? Details?

CROUS is very inexpensive but its unfurnished expect a bed, table and chair. It is 140 Euro and 100 Euro with CAF. Some people buy a fridge and microwave for their room. There is a kitchen with hot plats. There is not much contact to your immediate neighbors compared with Uilenstede in Amsterdam.
CROUS residences can be located far away from Campus Carreire.
__Laurie' comment: __There is no guarantee to get a room from the CROUS due to shortage in accommodation (Bordeaux Segalen University is given 65 rooms a year = students with low or no income/scholarship are given priority. During S3, it's very difficult to get a room, more chances during S2 and S4 as international students may leave at this time).

There is also TENEO which has agreements with the university and so they charge you the monthly price of those staying for a whole year even if your own contract is shorter. They are Studios, T1, T2 and T3 so they have private bathroom and a kitchenette. More info here

What about the private market? Is it worth it?

It's difficult to find people speaking English - however it's an intermediate solution between CROUS and TENEO.

Where can I find an apartment/flatshare?

Hostels/Hotels?

Which neighborhood/areas are better for students?

Depends what you like. Talence is pretty nice and calm but farther from the center.

Bordeaux (Laurie' comment): everything is fine but the train station and Rive droite (accross the river, except near Tram A stations Stalingrad, Jardin Botanique - these areas are ok).
Victoire, St Michel are cheap. But not the best parts of the city.
Near Tram A and not that far from the city center and the university: areas from tram stations Stade Chaban Delmas to Porte de Bourgogne are ok. Gambetta is nice too.

What about the transportation (public transport cards, tickets, bikes etc)?

In the city, there are trams and buses available. You can buy tickets 10 for 6.6 Euros as a student or adhere to some of the monthly plans they have. Public transportation includes also bikes (around 15€ a year).
If you stay one year, preferably suscribe to a 1-year pass (17€ a month for people under 28 years old)
For timetables and everything related to public transportation check:InfoTBC/ General Information about public transportBikes2 Boats-New

Bordeaux is very flat and has lots of bike lanes so it is very easy to get around the city by bicycle.VCub is city-wide bike sharing program that allows you to get a bike from standpoints for free for up to half an hour. If you exceed the half an hour limit though, you will be charged 2€ per extra hour. A daily subscription is 1€ and weekly subscription is 5€, while for the year you pay about 25€. If you need it for more than 30 minutes, you can just return the bike and take out a new one.

If you live in Bordeaux (the student houses in Pessac are not considered Bordeaux), the city gives you a bike for free for up to a year. More info at La Maison du Velo
You can also buy second hand bikes in pretty good shape for 70-90 Euros or from former students.

Are there any flea markets?

What about grocery stores?

There is a huge Auchan in the Meriadeck Commercial Center, which has everything. The big Carrefour are almost as cheap (there is one near Victoire on Saint Catherine), while a Lidl (near the train station) is very cheap also.
Smaller Carrefour stores as well as Casino are more expensive.
Casino has a 5% discount for students (you have to ask them about it) and Simply Market is also quite cheap.

Can I eat at the university? Are there other places you recommend?

On campus there is a university restaurant. The food/service quality is (below) average, but this is also a matter of personal taste. Still, the food is edible. It works from around 11.30 - 13.30, but if you go late you probably won't find much to eat. The standard menu costs 3.10.

There is also a cafeteria (next to the restaurant), where you can have some sandwiches and crepes, as well as coffee and other beverages.

Near the university there are not many places. For something more expensive you can try Le petit Quebec.

For other restaurants, you can try groupon.fr for some discounts.—> Laurie' comment: Caution, I have some friends who had trouble with groupon.fr - the offers did not work as mentionned when they purchased the ticket.

Where can I get extra language courses?

Neurocentre Magendie organizes some classes.

French classes are available through the Language centre (free for students)

What about entertainment (theater/cinema/bars/clubs)?

Utopia is a wonderful movie theater in a church. They show a lot of movies in the original language (Arabic, German, Turkish, English, Spanish) with French subtitles. In most other cinemas, films are dubbed in French. If you want to hear the original language, look for films with the indication VOSTF (original version and subtitled in French).

UGC is also a big movie theater showing a lot of movies in English language (with subtitles).

There are also a few theaters in Bordeaux, with the biggest being TNBA.

If you like watching sports, you can watch a soccer game of the FC Girondins Bordeaux at the Stade Chaban Delmas or an ice hockey game of the Bordeaux Boxers at the Meriadeck ice ring.

What about sports (in the university and outside)?

The university provides students with the possibility to join different sport activities for free. Drop by the sport office and ask for a brochure. They also offer some exclusive offers for free such as surfing (if you find the time).
You can try ice skating at the Meriadeck Patinoire.

The city of Bordeaux organizes also free events sometimes.
Currently, first Sunday of each month - 2 hours fitness for free are organized outside, Tram A Chartrons.
The city of Bordeaux has also a wide range of infrastructures (Ex: near Tram A St Michel)
Swimming pools: Piscine Judaïque, Centre nautique Pessac